Apartment Roommates

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Make a smart decision when choosing an apartment roommate

Your new roommate may turn out to be the best friend you ever had, or the one person you will never want to see again. Choosing wisely will make your life both happier and easier. 

When UT pharmacy student Richard Harris decided to have a roommate, he had no idea what he was in for. "I lived with the same three guys for two years," he says. "One of them was horrendous. He once spilled a carton of orange juice all over the kitchen floor, and left it there. Even after I'd stepped in it and confronted him, he refused to do anything about it!"

Like Harris, many people have more than their share of roommate stories. But not all roommates are bad. Some people find the perfect roommate and enjoy the time they spend together.

As with most things in life, there are advantages and disadvantages to living with others, versus living single.

Living with a roommate

Companionship — Assuming everything works well, you'll have a live-in friend. You'll never get lonely, and you'll have someone to talk to. Think about those Friday nights when you've made no plans Ð perhaps your roommate hasn't, either.

Unpredictability — Living with a roommate means living with another person. You can never predict what someone else will do, or how they will behave.

Friendship — Your roommate may turn out to be the best friend you ever made, and you'll keep in touch even after you move out.

Boundaries — There's your stuff and their stuff, their food and your food. Living with someone else means tiptoeing over certain imaginary boundary lines drawn across the kitchen, the living room. Oh, and inviting guests over only when it's okay with your roommate.

Responsibilities — If you live with a roommate, you've got to be considerate of their needs and environment, too. You may end up dividing cleaning chores, or swearing to clean up after yourself.

Divided Costs — Not to say that having a roommate means lowering your expenses. But at least you'll be able to divide some of them with your roommate.

Flying solo

Loneliness — If you choose to live alone, you'll always be alone. Yes, that means by yourself, and with no one to entertain you on those nights you didn't make plans with your friends.

Safety — If something happens, you won't have someone around to step in, or help out. Sometimes you have to take bigger precautions to ensure your own safety, such as choosing a more expensive area to live in.

Responsibility — If you forget to pay your utilities, no one else will remember to do so. There's no one to blame when you come home and the lights don't turn on. That also means more duties for you to take care of alone.

Freedom — You can have people over whenever you want and you never have to worry about crossing your roommates' boundaries.

Finding a roommate

Network — Ask friends if they know anyone looking for a roommate. Find out what your friends think of prospective roommates. Networking will help you find a prospective roommate that other people know, which serves as a sort of comfort buffer.

Blind Search — So let's say you don't know anyone who needs or is looking for a roommate, and you have to go for it blindly. Online sites help match roommates up with one another. Apartment publications placed in kiosks at grocery stores and gas stations may prove to be helpful as well.

Meeting the roommate

Ask Questions — Don't be afraid to ask questions. Never hold back on asking questions you need to know the answers to. If you can't be honest with them from the start, your roommate relationship is doomed.

Be Truthful — Tell the truth about your own living habits. What sort of person are you? What are your oddities and habits? How are you when it comes to cleanliness? How do you prefer to pay the bills? How responsible are you? If you can tell the truth about who you are, it will be easier for them.

Set Limits — Define the boundaries right off the bat. Tell them you don't want to share the use of your television, or that you want them to ask before even touching it. This way, there will be fewer surprises when living together comes around.

Discuss and Negotiate — If you set your limits early, you might find you'll need to compromise and cooperate. This requires discussion on both of your parts (if they can bring their dog, you can bring your fish, too).

Good luck!

Roommates - apartments in Austin Texas

Austin Texas apartment roommates: Tips on choosing a roommate for your Austin apartment condo or townhouse, deciding to choose a roommate for your apartment in Austin, pros and cons of roommates

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Roommates - apartments in Austin Texas

Austin Texas apartment roommates: Tips on choosing a roommate for your Austin apartment condo or townhouse, deciding to choose a roommate for your apartment in Austin, pros and cons of roommates